Leading Through Scarcity: Purpose Over Panic

About this episode

The episode discusses how purpose-led strategy and prioritization can help organizations navigate challenges during times of scarcity and uncertainty.

CEO lessons for navigating constant change: When resources are tight and uncertainty is high, what keeps organizations moving forward? New Jersey Performing Art Center CEO John Schreiber and BCG’s Rishi Varma share how purpose-led strategy, prioritization, and the right partnerships drive growth. Clear, actionable plans grounded in mission give leaders a north star, helping them stay focused and make hard calls with confidence. Learn More John Schreiber, President and CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center https://www.njpac.org/about/our-people/ Rishi Varma, Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/rishi-varma When Strategy Follows Purpose: The Art of Revival, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/when-strategy-follows-purpose-art-of-revival BCG's CEO Agenda, https://www.bcg.com/executives/ceo-agenda/insights Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:57 The role of NJPAC 02:33 Why did the organization need to reshape? 05:47 How BCG partnered with NJPAC 07:52 Leading change in a legacy organization 11:16 CEO lessons for navigating constant change 13:28 Building resilience without abundant resources 14:25 How do leaders lead with less? 15:42 When does…

People in this episode

Guests: John Schreiber, Rishi Varma

Topics covered

• leadership
• strategy
• organizational change
• resilience
• partnerships

Keywords

• leadership
• scarcity
• purpose-led strategy
• organizational change
• resilience
• partnerships
• growth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Boston Consulting Group, BCG's CEO Agenda

Books & works: When Strategy Follows Purpose: The Art of Revival

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